Wonderment returned in 2019 with two showcases on the May long weekend.

Events for June 30, July 1 and August 3-4 are also being planned!

We are grateful for the support we had from the BC Arts Council, the Capital Regional District, the City of Victoria, the Greater Victoria Public Library, Long & McQuade, MODO Car Co-Op, Sunbelt Rentals and Metropol Industries for these events, as well as members of the public who donate to GCEMS and our members’ support.  If you’d like to support Wonderment, you can send us an e-interac transfer to gcems@gcems.ca, or mail a cheque to PO Box 8811, Victoria, BC, V8W 3S3.

Here are some photos from the May long weekend followed by info about / promo from the events.

May 18th saw Wonderment in the Atrium space of the Greater Victoria Central Branch Library.  Artists featured the electro-folk loop-pedal stylings of Fanfare, and the Righteous Rainbows of Togetherness debuting new ambient material from their recently released full-length CD, Astrobiology (the album will be released to streaming platforms this summer).  DJ Dub Gnostic’s set can be heard on MixCloud.

 

On Sunday, May 19th, Wonderment launched it’s new “Wonderment-at-Night” series with performances at Open Space Gallery on Fort Street by Oglala Lakota artist Suzanne KITE (from Montreal) and Cnoc:n:conC, from the Unheard Records label.  (Photos to be added soon)

Wonderment 2019 kicks off on Saturday, May 18th, starting at 2:00pm at the Downtown Victoria Public Library Courtyard located at 735 Broughton Street.  This event will feature a taste of both Wonderment and Electro-Acoustic events to come over holiday long weekends this summer.  The second event on Sunday, May19th, starting at 7:30pm at Open Space Gallery, located at 510 Fort Street, will feature indoor evening multimedia performances.  Both events are FREE to the public.

SATURDAY, MAY 18th – 2:00pm – 735 Broughton Street

THE RIGHTEOUS RAINBOWS OF TOGETHERNESS are one of Victoria’s most-beloved live electronic music acts, and have made their mark on the BC Festival Circuit from Tall Tree to Bass Coast to Rifflandia.  While normally known for their improvisational live dance music, the Righteous Rainbows of Togetherness are about to release a full-length ambient album, making Wonderment an excellent platform to debut this new material.  Their live performance in the library courtyard will be in Quadraphonic sound.

FANFARE is originally from Alberta, but more recently has been living in Qualicum Beach.  His live performances employ violin, vocals, beat-boxing through a looper and array of effects.  If you enjoyed our March 2018 Electro-Acoustic Showcase featuring Hannah Epperson, don’t miss this performance!  When GCEMS provided sound for Koksilah 2018, Fanfare was one of the highlights of the weekend for us.  Emotive and atmospheric, Fanfare’s music will suit the natural acoustics of the library courtyard.

SUNDAY, MAY 19th – 7:30pm – 510 Fort Street (Upstairs)

KITE aka Suzanne Kite is an Oglala Lakota performance artist, visual artist, and composer raised in Southern California, with a BFA from CalArts in music composition, an MFA from Bard College’s Milton Avery Graduate School, and is a PhD student at Concordia University and Research Assistant for the Initiative for Indigenous Futures. Her research is concerned with contemporary Lakota epistemologies through research-creation, computational media, and performance practice. Recently, Kite has been developing a body interface for movement performances, carbon fiber sculptures, immersive video & sound installations, as well as co-running the experimental electronic imprint, Unheard Records.  On Sunday, May 19th, Suzanne will present “Anáwaǧoptaŋ éyaš tákuninawáȟʼuŋ šni. I listened but heard nothing” featuring live audio-visual performance using a hair-braid interface that Suzanne developed.

CNOC:N:CONC is a Victoria-based duo who have released on Suzanne Kite’s label, Unheard Records.  CNOC:N:CONC is a concept project representing the expressions of an AI that has had a glimpse of love while in a deep dream.  Katrina layers manipulated field recordings of the real world, representing the chaotic content an AI must process. Maisie’s role is more musical, using the Arp-2600’s emotive palette to represent the AI searching, calling out for that love, lost within a sea of simulacra.  Sunday, May 19th will be CNOC:N:CONC’s premiere performance.

More information about Wonderment / Electro-Acoustic Events taking place on the Canada Day and BC Day long weekends will be announced soon.  Email info@gcems.ca to sign up for email updates about GCEMS events.

Wonderment is supported by the BC Arts Council, Capital Regional District, City of Victoria and the Greater Victoria Public Library, with assistance from Long & McQuade and Metropol Industries.